The 49ers on Thursday placed eight players on various injury lists, including seven members of this year's 12-man draft class. One name that was notably absent, however, was first-round pick Jimmie Ward.
Ward sat out all of the spring practices as he recovered from a foot injury, but he is healthy now, and the plan is for him to be on the field for the first training camp practice on Thursday.
He also promises to be part of one of the more interesting battles of training camp and the preseason -- replacing veteran Carlos Rogers at the increasingly critical nickel cornerback position.